I've said it numerous times before, and I'll say it again. The ability to respec would greatly benefit this game, for exactly the reason listed in the OP. Us Vets don't need a respec, no matter what you do, we have enough SP to adapt instantly, while those with less SP are left to suffer from the continual re-balancing. I'm to the point where I'm just banking my SP because I have nothing more I want to do with it (until that new role, suit, weapon, or vehicle comes into game, then I can dump all my SP into that thing on Day 1)

One way to level the playing field between Veteren and new player is to adopt a neural remaping feature similar to EVE (but different, because SP works differently). Every new character starts with a respec (or is awarded one after graduating a more lengthy battle academy). Then, once a year, the player earns another respec. Combined with an accelerated SP accumulation rate for new accounts, this would greatly benefit new players.

Very few Vets complained about all the respecs they got in closed beta, open beta, and post-release. These respecs allowed us Vets to make mistakes, learn how to play, understand what we liked, and then make appropriate Skill choices. Not giving new players the same opportunity, and then ridiculing them with stories of "Back in my day, we earned SP while fighting battles uphill both ways, this is New Eden, consequences matter, get good, don't suck, stop complaining" is just flat out wrong. New players today have it harder than us Vets ever did. Us Vets learned the game together, got good together, started using proto gear together, made mistakes together, and then got bailed out repeatedly together.

The only way this game is going to thrive is if we lower the bar of entry to newer players. Respecs are not the only way, but they are an important way.